FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter was granted a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican at lunchtime on Friday. During the discussions, the Holy Father asked FIFA to use football to promote peace in the world and to help the poor.
Europe’s 54 soccer nations are prepared to support moving the 2022 Qatar World Cup from the summer heat to playing in January. Allegedly European soccer leaders gave UEFA President Michel Platini a mandate for change on Wednesday.
Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo has said he is worried about delays at five stadiums still being built for next year's football World Cup. Rebelo said the pace of construction must be accelerated if the venues are to be ready by this December.
FIFA has released the price list for tickets to the 2014 World Cup to be held in Brazil. Fans have until 10 October to apply and a ballot will decide which of the applications are successful.
FIFA wants the centenary World Cup in 2030 to be jointly staged by Uruguay and Argentina, who met in the final of the inaugural tournament, Argentine FA (AFA) president Julio Grondona said on Thursday.
FIFA at no stage has discussed the possibility of canceling the Confederations Cup, which has been overshadowed by protests sweeping Brazil, according to a brief statement on Friday from soccer’s main organization following on reports from the Brazilian media.
Inflation, slower growth, street protests over the increase in bus fares smacked full on at an ill-humoured Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff during the opening ceremony of the Confederations Cup in Brasilia when she was booed down three times and simply had to declare the event open.
After violent protests in three cities heading into the warm-up event for the 2014 World Cup, FIFA expressed ''full confidence'' on Friday that Brazilian authorities have shown they can manage disorder in the streets.
Joao Havelange has quit as FIFA honorary president while Sepp Blatter has been cleared of misconduct in the ISL bribery case, a report by FIFA ethics committee said. The report described the behaviour of Havelange as morally and ethically reproachable in his dealings with ISL, FIFA former marketing partner which went bankrupt in 2001.
Uruguay’s Eugenio Figueredo was officially appointed president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) in succession to Nicolas Leoz on Tuesday. He is the third Uruguayan to occupy the post.